By Mandisa Dlamini, Health Systems Trust Communications Assistant, and Antoinette Stafford Cloete, Health Systems Trust Communications Manager
Abodunrin and colleagues, wrote in 2023, that oral diseases place a substantial burden on public health. About 3.5 billion people globally suffer from various forms of oral diseases surpassing the figures for the top five non-communicable diseases by almost a billion cases. Oral diseases can affect your ability to speak, smile, taste and digest your food and often leads to the most incredible pain. The sad part is that oral diseases are, for the most part, preventable. Although not explicitly stated as a sustainable development goal (SDG), it does have multiple connections to many others and needs to be considered as a part of how the other SDGs reduce the global burden of disease. For this to happen a huge investment of funding needs to be made on public as well as private dental care.
In South Africa, the public health system struggles with adequately resourcing its facilities with the necessary human resources to service communities in terms of health promotion and education (the preventive side) as well as tertiary interventions where teeth may need a higher level intervention such as extraction. The worst case scenario are cancers related to the oral cavities.
Beyond simply having a beautiful smile, dental health is an essential part of general health and wellbeing. Maintaining good oral hygiene is essential for preventing gum disease, tooth decay, poor breath, and other dental issues. It also has a big impact on preventing more severe health issues like diabetes and heart disease, which are related to not getting adequate dental care.
The Importance of Oral Hygiene
Maintaining good dental hygiene is essential to your general wellbeing and standard of living. You can prevent oral health problems, enhance general wellbeing, and improve your body's health by upholding healthy dental habits. Gum disease and cavities can be avoided with regular dental examinations, brushing, and flossing. Oral bacteria quickly pass into the bloodstream, and saliva can travel to the lungs in tiny droplets, carrying bacteria from the mouth. This shows they can bypass the epiglottis; the flap that usually prevents saliva from entering the lower respiratory tract. Neglecting dental care can result in infections that can cause more serious problems like heart disease, lung infections, and issues from diabetes.
Lack of Awareness
A lack of awareness about the importance of oral hygiene continues to contribute to significant public health challenges. This problem impacts people's health, but because preventable oral problems are becoming more common, it also puts a strain on healthcare systems. Oral health is not prioritised in the same way as other health issues in many communities. This is particularly true in poor neighbourhoods where there is a lack of access to dental care and a financial barrier to treatment. Dental care is sometimes seen in these societies as a luxury as opposed to a need.
Essential Habits for Maintaining Good Oral Hygiene
An antibacterial mouthwash that helps reduce bacteria and freshen your breath, daily flossing to clean in-between teeth and under the gum line where a toothbrush cannot reach, brushing your teeth at least twice a day with toothpaste to remove plaque and prevent cavities, and routine dental check-ups and cleanings at the dentist are all important components of maintaining good oral hygiene. To further preserve your teeth and gums, remain hydrated, stay away from sugary foods and beverages, and, if your dentist advises it, think about using a fluoride rinse or gel.
Enhancing general health and quality of life is the goal of national oral health, not only keeping a gorgeous smile. We can encourage improved oral health for everyone by removing obstacles to care, increasing public knowledge of the value of good oral hygiene practices, and putting in place efficient public health regulations.
To find out more about National Oral Health , visit the https://www.who.int/health-topics/oral-health#tab=tab_1